Jaime Gittleson - Assistant Principal

Website: cces.hcpss.org
Location: 10320 Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: (410) 313-6866
Facebook: facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
Twitter: @hcpss_cces

For another language, click "Translate Newsletter" tab and select the language of choice at the top of this page.

Spanish

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Korean

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Chinese

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Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

February

• 14 - Valentine's Day - wear hearts, pink, or red
• 14 - 100th Day of School
• 17 - Schools and Offices Closed - Presidents' Day
• 18 - Class Photo Day
• 25 - Social Emotional Learning Parent Night, 6:00-7:00pm

March

• 4 - Time to be Green Tuesday - wear green!
• 5 - Individual Spring Photo Day
• 7 - PTA Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m.
• 10 - PTA Restaurant Night - Chipotle on Broken Land Parkway
• 14 - Pi Day - wear something with numbers on it
• 14 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal - Professional Work and Wellness Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 21 - PTA Book Fair Begins, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (every evening through 3/27)
• 25 - Maryland Day - wear Maryland shirt or red, black, and yellow
• 28 - Baseball Day - wear your favorite baseball team's jersey, hat, or colors
• 31 - End of 3rd Marking Period
• 31 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Work and Developement Day

To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.

There will be no printed 2024-2025 calendars. Staff, students, and families may add our online calendar to their own mobile/online calendar by

1. Going to https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
2. Scrolling down to Subscribing to a Calendar
3. Right-clicking on the calendar you wish to subscribe to
4. Selecting Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut
5. Adding to your calendar of choice (See your calendar for specifics on adding a new calendar)

You also may view and/or download printable PDFs of the full calendar and/or important dates only. Updates to the PDFs will be noted on the HCPSS calendar page.

PLEASE NOTE! The calendar is subject to change. The online calendar reflects the most recent version.

Calendars in Spanish, Chinese, and Korean

西班牙语日历

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Dear Families,

Thank you for your support as we navigate the various early closings and snow days! We hope to be about to have consistent school days moving forward!

If your child dismisses through carpool, please remember to have your child's car tag displayed. This helps our staff get students to cars in a quick fashion. Thank you for your support.

Thank you!

Mrs. Leader, Principal

Mrs. Gittleson, Assistant Principal

Lifetouch will be here to take our Class photos on Tuesday, February 18! You may order a class photo for $17 by going to www.mylifetouch.com and use Picture Day ID: EVTDB9IDJP, or you may use the order form that will be sent home with your child.

Individual Spring Photos will be taken on March 5th.

We have rescheduled our Social Emotional Parent Night for Tuesday, February 25th. Please see the info in the flier below. Also, please RSVP here. We ask that you RSVP again even if you did it for the previous date. This will help us to ensure we have ample resources and can plan for childcare.

​​The Gifted and Talented (G/T) Summer Institutes for Talent Development offers additional advanced-level instruction and enrichment experiences not regularly available during the academic school year for students entering grades 1-8. Rigorous instruction focusing on talent development is offered in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, technology and fine arts.

No testing nor prior G/T coursework is required for enrollment in these enrichment offerings.

Location: Burleigh Manor Middle School

Session 1: June 30 - July 11 (no class July 4)

Session 2: July 14-25

Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Cost: $330 per session (Financial assistance is available for students participating in the Free and Reduced Meal Program.)

Students may attend Session 1, Session 2, or both sessions. While the program is half-day, after care is available on site via Howard County Recreation and Parks. Snack is provided.

A few highlights ---

• Bus transportation to area collector stops!

• Exciting courses in Humanities, STEM, and the Arts!

Registration is now open for families of HCPSS students through HCPSS Connect. The first registration request window will close on February 18 at 12 p.m.

For more information on how to register, please see this registration guide.

• G/T Course Listing

  
  

Contact: GTSummer@hcpss.org or 410-313-6671.

Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025? Please save the date and join us for an upcoming Road to Kindergarten parent information session. All sessions will run 6:30-7:30 p.m. and cover the same content. More information and upcoming dates can be found here.

The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Those eligible for Free and Reduced Meals receive both breakfast and lunch for free.

Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility. Click the button below to apply.

Please do not send medication (over-the-counter or prescription) to school with your child. An adult must bring it in with the necessary form signed by a healthcare provider.

Cough drops without medication in them may be self-carried by students with written parent permission and specific instructions. The instructions should include the name of the product, reason for administration, and amount and frequency of administration; no more than 3 cough drops per day (every two hours) for no longer than 5 school days . Please instruct your student not to share them with others.

Health Services information can be found online and will be continually updated. All students, staff and visitors should perform daily health checks and may not enter an HCPSS bus or building if they exhibit any signs of a communicable disease. Details, including infection control protocols for communicable diseases like COVID-19, are available online.

The Junie B. Jones production is now open to CCES students from ALL grades! Sign your child up now!

SIgn up link: https://cctarts.shop/programs/elementary-after-school/

Questions about the play? Email Tamara Bishop at vicepresident@clemenscrossingpta.org

March 10th

9851 Broken Land Parkway

Join here: https://clemens.givebacks.com/

The single most important thing you can do to support PTA this year is to join! Your $15 membership goes a long way to help us run programs like the Science Fair, International Night, Talent Show, Trunk or Treat, the Book Fair, Holiday Shop and so much more. Did you know that our PTA helps reduce the cost of school field trips through direct sponsorship? PTA also offers scholarships for students to participate in after school activities. All of these things and more are made possible through families and staff joining our PTA!

Our CCES PTA makes a big contribution to our school through family events, student enrichment and staff appreciation. Be part of it! Becoming a member does not obligate you to volunteer your time. There are many ways big and small to be involved in PTA throughout the year but if there is only ONE thing you're able to do for PTA , simply become a member and make a contribution to the excellence of our Clemens school community.

Join here: https://clemens.givebacks.com/

Parents, is your child interested in STEM and leadership?

STEMVillage Leadership Summer Camp is the perfect opportunity for rising 3rd–6th graders to explore the exciting worlds of science, technology, engineering, and math, all while building key leadership skills! Through hands-on projects and fun challenges, campers will strengthen their critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and public speaking—all while creating lasting summer memories.

This summer, we’re offering two exciting sessions:

Session 1 (July 7–11, 2025):
Dive into the world of simple machines and rockets! Campers will build catapults, design bottle rockets, and work on group STEM pitches. They’ll also boost their confidence with interactive presentations and public speaking activities.

Session 2 (July 28–August 1, 2025):
Get creative with problem-solving challenges, including egg drops, bridge-building competitions, and teamwork exercises. This session focuses on collaboration, innovation, and leadership in group settings.

Early bird pricing is just $350 per week if registered by February 28, 2025!
Don’t miss out on a summer full of STEM fun and leadership development—sign up now!

For more details and to register, visit tinyurl.com/stemvillage25. Spaces are limited!

Coaches wanted!

Girls on the Run, an after school program to empower girls to move, build confidence, make intergrade level connections (grades 3-5) is looking for both a head and assistant coach for CCES. The girls complete a community impact project as well as do a fun run 5k. Coaches are supplied with curriculum and materials for practices.

Practice would start the week of 3/17 and end the week of 6/2. The fun run 5k will be 5/31.

If interested, please register online here:

https://www.pinwheel.us/volunteer/signup/GOTRNew-coach-SP25

or contact susan.michel@girlsontherun.org

Thank you for your interest in supporting our students!

Free Life Skills Classes for HoCo Middle/High School Students

• Classes will be taught by HoCo college students with high school student assistants and adult supervision. Botvin’s Evidence Based Curriculum promotes positive health and personal development for students in grades 6 to 9. (Slightly younger students will be considered especially if joining an older sibling, and students older than 9th grade may be invited to join our high school team to earn Community Service Hours while learning.) If parents/guardians have questions about the appropriateness for students, register the students and HC DrugFree’s team will contact you. Siblings and friends are encouraged to take these classes together.
• Class dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 28, and May 5 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register students at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spring2025LifeSkills
• HoCo High School Student Leadership Opportunity to Earn Community Service Hours: Join HC DrugFree’s instructional team to assist college students teaching online Life Skills classes – all while serving as a role model and mentor to younger HoCo students. This leadership experience looks good on resumes and college applications. For more information and to register to volunteer, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AssistLS2025spring

Free Parenting/Grandparenting Classes

• Free! On Zoom and open to parents, guardians and grandparents residing in HoCo or with school-age children/grandchildren residing in HoCo. This evidence-based, interactive prevention program provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs including alcohol or engage in other dangerous behaviors. The curriculum was written for families with children 9-14 years olds, but we believe it is appropriate for K-12 families. Class dates: March 18, 21, 25, 28 and April 1 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spring2025GGC